First Apple Music TV series to star Dr. Dre, will feature 'no shortage of violence and sex'
Apple is reportedly set to get into the original content business, competing with the likes of HBO, Netflix, Amazon and others, with a new TV show starring one of its own employees: Dr. Dre.
Citing multiple sources, The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Friday that the Beats cofounder will be the star of a new program called "Vital Signs," a scripted TV show created by Apple. Dr. Dre is also set to executive produce the six-episode production.
It's expected that the new series will be tied to Apple's $10-per-month Apple Music subscription service, the report said, noting it's "not clear" if other platforms, like iTunes, will make the show available to view.
Apple took a similar approach with the "1989 World Tour" concert video for pop star Taylor Swift last year. But while Apple paid to be the exclusive home of Swift's concert film, "Vital Signs" starring Dr. Dre will be financed by Apple itself.
Each episode will be a half-hour long, and the show was described by Hollywood Reporter sources as a "dark drama with no shortage of violence and sex." Filming is already said to be underway, with an "extended orgy scene" put to celluloid as recently as this week.
Dr. Dre became an executive at Apple in 2014 when the company bought his Beats headphone business and the Beats Music service for $3 billion. It has since used that acquisition to debut the Apple Music subscription service, as well as Beats 1, a live worldwide radio station on which Dr. Dre has a weekly program called "The Pharmacy."
The Apple executive isn't new to Hollywood either --?Dr. Dre played a part in the "Straight Outta Compton" film, which set records last August when it opened $60.2 million in the U.S. The script for the film has also been nominated for an Academy Award.
Citing multiple sources, The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Friday that the Beats cofounder will be the star of a new program called "Vital Signs," a scripted TV show created by Apple. Dr. Dre is also set to executive produce the six-episode production.
It's expected that the new series will be tied to Apple's $10-per-month Apple Music subscription service, the report said, noting it's "not clear" if other platforms, like iTunes, will make the show available to view.
Apple took a similar approach with the "1989 World Tour" concert video for pop star Taylor Swift last year. But while Apple paid to be the exclusive home of Swift's concert film, "Vital Signs" starring Dr. Dre will be financed by Apple itself.
Each episode will be a half-hour long, and the show was described by Hollywood Reporter sources as a "dark drama with no shortage of violence and sex." Filming is already said to be underway, with an "extended orgy scene" put to celluloid as recently as this week.
Dr. Dre became an executive at Apple in 2014 when the company bought his Beats headphone business and the Beats Music service for $3 billion. It has since used that acquisition to debut the Apple Music subscription service, as well as Beats 1, a live worldwide radio station on which Dr. Dre has a weekly program called "The Pharmacy."
The Apple executive isn't new to Hollywood either --?Dr. Dre played a part in the "Straight Outta Compton" film, which set records last August when it opened $60.2 million in the U.S. The script for the film has also been nominated for an Academy Award.
Comments
You young hipster millennials are even worse. Everything must be accepted at face value unless it is a point of view that runs counter to how YOU feel about it.
This is what Dre (who is no doctor) is supposed to be doing at Apple? Starring in a dark drama with no shortage of violence or sex?
How boring. Oooh, there's an orgy scene, how hardcore, how hip.
Why doesn't Apple just begin making big budget porno flicks and stream them exclusively on Apple TV? That would probably be more interesting to watch.
There are many pretty good TV series being made these past few years. Unless Apple is making something that's going to be on the same level of GOT or something similar, then they shouldn't even bother.
But I'm probably not his target demographic.
First, quality control is going downhill. What has happened to Apple Mail. The current version is full of bugs. Seems like everyone is going to gmail and dropping their mail client. Gmail is reliable and shows constant improvements and refinements. That's just one example. I could go on about other similar half baked products but those are not what caused me to make this post.
If Apple releases the kind of pathetic "entertainment" content suggested in this article, my unwavering support for Apple products will almost certainly begin to see an intentional end. Apple, you have a history of making products that improve the quality of people's lives. Why not make content that improves peoples lives. If you can't do that, get out of the media business. Just like Apple doesn't try to make cheap run of the mill products in an effort to improve market share, Apple shouldn't produce garbage content to grab a few more eyeballs for it's Apple TV. This whole thing smells of desperation. Tim Cook needs to get back to doing what makes Apple great and shut this thing down. Apple needs to make products that are empowering and improve peoples lives in new and innovative ways.
I'm sure there will be interest in this, but it just seems like more extremely inconsistent decision making. Does Apple want to be Netflix, HBO or Cinemax...or the Disney Channel?
All that needs to be said. That $3B seems money well spent.
Also where is Apple's version of Amazon Echo (which is getting great reviews). Perhaps Eddy should be focusing on that.
Your rant is a bit premature. Just because a program has violence and sex, doesn't mean it's also not presenting a worthwhile message. If sex and violence is the way to get people to take notice in the marketplace, and listen to the worthwhile message, then Apple would be doing a disservice to everyone if they didn't offer it to a consenting audience.
It's clear that Apple may have no choice but to compete with Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix in order to survive. And if they go down that path they have to offer competitive programming.
This is the first, and highest profile production we've heard about from Apple. How do you know they aren't also producing other more family friendly content as well?
Until you know the full picture, you should probably back off a little.
Its a a neutral company at the core. It creates hardware and software to allow users to deliver and consume content.
Whether the the user chooses to deliver or consume morally questionable content is at the discretion of the user.
Me apple is now CREATING morally dubious content?
seriously?
this is whey they make a mistake. They are basically saying "this is Apple."
And be that's a huge mistake.
Hiring Andre young and Jim lovine would be ok (if expensive for what they got) to acquire a brand and an idea. But to allow a company as pristine as Apple was to have its entire culture and what it stands for be driven into the gutter by it is ridiculous.
Dre is old. His methods are the old sex and violence.
Apple let has been about thinking different. And succeeding.
Doing the the right thing however hard. Jobs even took a stance against porn and mentioned the downfalls of it.
If your going to consume porn or profanity or violence, hey it's out there. If you're going to produce it, you have the tools if that's what you choose to do.
But it that speaks to who you are and what you stand for.
Applr let is a tool maker. Hardware and software.
They em provide a neutral experience and let the user decide what floods their screen and speakers.
But now...they are CREATING this trash. And that's what it is. Let's not pretend this is what defines music etc. no. This is that defines trash.
Music is is lryics and repetitive sound that create harmonies and melodies whether that sound is in a specific genre (trashy or clean).
This is is not something Apple should be doing. If they want to do something then do it. And do it in a manner that represents the clean ethics of the company and that all supporters of Apple can be proud of.
Not this... This makes me wonder where they're going, what in the world they're thinking, and whether my continued steadfast support may be misplaced.
This is a big deal.
More responsible is the way to go.
the entire world is "less repressed" these days.
Look around.
Apple isn't Playboy or Stanky Records.
Its a hardware, software, and services company that got here by building the best devices and services in the world. Not by producing trash.
Main fact, keeping things clean and safe are what allowed the App Store to rise up since the beginning.
Hey I get it. Some people really want trash. Ok. You can have it. Lots of content producers to suit you. That's who they are and what they do.
THEY.
Not Apple.